Winner expected in 7th Congressional District this week

By PATRICK GANNON - Wilmington Star News

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 05:19 PM.

WILMINGTON — Little by little, provisional and absentee ballots are being counted in the 12 counties that make up the 7th Congressional District, resulting in occasional fluctuations in unofficial results in the hotly contested election.

By Friday afternoon, a winner — either Democrat Mike McIntyre or Republican David Rouzer — will be declared after the boards of elections certify election results. After that, a recount remains a distinct possibility, if the candidate with the fewest votes chooses to demand one.

As of Wednesday morning, McIntyre still led Rouzer by 420 votes, according to unofficial results at the State Board of Elections, but some counties are still counting provisional and absentee ballots. Ballots counted Tuesday and Wednesday were expected to be added to the totals by the State Board of Elections Wednesday, meaning some change in the vote differential is likely.

By the end of the day today, a much clearer picture about the race will emerge after elections officials in the 7th District's two largest counties — New Hanover and Johnston — will count the approved provisional ballots in those counties and add the results to the totals. When those counties' ballots are fully counted, it will make it less likely that either candidate could make up anything but a very small vote deficit.

In New Hanover County, the board of elections will meet at 2 p.m. today to decide which provisional ballots to approve and then count them. Elections Director Marvin McFadyen said representatives from the Rouzer and McIntyre campaigns, the political parties and other observers would attend the meeting at the Board of Elections.

"I expect a full house to be honest with you," McFadyen said.

In Johnston County, provisional ballots will be counted at 4 p.m. at that county's elections office in Smithfield. Johnston County Elections Director Leigh Anne Price said she would recommend that the board approve 357 of the 1,338 provisional ballots cast there.

WILMINGTON — Little by little, provisional and absentee ballots are being counted in the 12 counties that make up the 7th Congressional District, resulting in occasional fluctuations in unofficial results in the hotly contested election.

By Friday afternoon, a winner — either Democrat Mike McIntyre or Republican David Rouzer — will be declared after the boards of elections certify election results. After that, a recount remains a distinct possibility, if the candidate with the fewest votes chooses to demand one.

As of Wednesday morning, McIntyre still led Rouzer by 420 votes, according to unofficial results at the State Board of Elections, but some counties are still counting provisional and absentee ballots. Ballots counted Tuesday and Wednesday were expected to be added to the totals by the State Board of Elections Wednesday, meaning some change in the vote differential is likely.

By the end of the day today, a much clearer picture about the race will emerge after elections officials in the 7th District's two largest counties — New Hanover and Johnston — will count the approved provisional ballots in those counties and add the results to the totals. When those counties' ballots are fully counted, it will make it less likely that either candidate could make up anything but a very small vote deficit.

In New Hanover County, the board of elections will meet at 2 p.m. today to decide which provisional ballots to approve and then count them. Elections Director Marvin McFadyen said representatives from the Rouzer and McIntyre campaigns, the political parties and other observers would attend the meeting at the Board of Elections.

"I expect a full house to be honest with you," McFadyen said.

In Johnston County, provisional ballots will be counted at 4 p.m. at that county's elections office in Smithfield. Johnston County Elections Director Leigh Anne Price said she would recommend that the board approve 357 of the 1,338 provisional ballots cast there.

Both campaigns have been fairly quiet since the Nov. 6 election. While the McIntyre campaign has claimed victory, the Rouzer campaign insists the race remains too close to call.

If the vote differential remains within 1 percent of the total ballot cast after all ballots are counted, which is likely, the trailing candidate may request a recount.

Meanwhile, McIntyre returned to Washington this week for the lame duck session of Congress. His campaign manager Lachlan McIntosh said a team of campaign workers has been in place at boards of elections throughout the 7th District to review provisional and absentee ballots.

"We are confident our lead will continue and potentially grow — and that our victory will stand," McIntosh said in a prepared statement.

The Rouzer campaign also has been largely mum since the election. It also has people out at the boards of elections keeping tabs on the process.

"We're just waiting until Friday to see what's going on and where we stand," Rouzer campaign spokeswoman Jessica Wood said.

Rouzer, a state senator from Johnston County, challenged McIntyre, the eight-term incumbent from Robeson County, in a newly drawn 7th Congressional District, which includes Duplin and Pender counties.